Elizabeth Macneal

'A sharp, scary, gorgeously evocative tale of love, art and obsession.' - Paula Hawkins, author of The Girl on the Train.The Doll Factory by Elizabeth Macneal is the intoxicating story of a young woman who aspires to be an artist, and the man whose obsession may destroy her world for ever. London. 1850. The Great Exhibition is being erected in Hyde Park and among the crowd watching the spectacle two people meet. For Iris, an aspiring artist, it is the encounter of a moment - forgotten seconds later, but for Silas, a collector entranced by the strange and beautiful, that meeting marks a new beginning. When Iris is asked to model for pre-Raphaelite artist Louis Frost, she agrees on the condition that he will also teach her to paint. Suddenly her world begins to expand, to become a place of art and love. But Silas has only thought of one thing since their meeting, and his obsession is darkening . . .

The Doll Factory

Kiran Millwood Hargrave

Laura Purcell

Andrew Michael Hurley

Imogen Hermes Gowar

Bridget Collins

Sara Collins

Natasha Pulley

Jess Kidd

Nine Ghostly Tales for Long Winter Nights

The Haunting Season

From the #1 internationally bestselling author of the “lush, evocative Gothic” (The New York Times Book Review) The Doll Factory comes an atmospheric and spectacular novel where one woman’s life is transformed by the arrival of a Victorian circus of wonders... Step up, step up! In 1860s England, circus mania is sweeping the nation. Crowds jostle for a glimpse of the lion-tamers, the dazzling trapeze artists and, most thrilling of all, the so-called “human wonders.” When Jasper Jupiter’s Circus of Wonders pitches its tent in a poor coastal town, the life of one young girl changes forever. Sold to the ringmaster as a “leopard girl” because of the birthmarks that cover her body, Nell is utterly devastated. But as she grows close to the other performers, she finds herself enchanted by the glittering freedom of the circus, and by her own role as the Queen of the Moon and Stars. Before long, Nell’s fame spreads across the world—and with it, a chance for Jasper Jupiter to grow his own name and fortune. But what happens when her fame begins to eclipse his own, when even Jasper’s loyal brother Toby becomes captivated by Nell? No longer the quiet flower-picker, Nell knows her own place in the world, and she will fight for it. A gorgeously wrought exploration of celebrity, power and belonging, this is a historical novel unlike any other, with an unforgettable heroine at its heart.

A Novel

Circus of Wonders

Laura Shepherd-Robinson

Stuart Turton

Catriona Ward

Susan Stokes-Chapman

FROM THE CREATORS OF THE HAUNTING SEASON COMES A DAZZLING COLLECTION OF NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN GHOSTLY TALES. Featuring new and original stories from: Bridget Collins Imogen Hermes Gowar Kiran Millwood Hargrave Andrew Michael Hurley Jess Kidd Natasha Pulley Elizabeth Macneal Laura Purcell Susan Stokes Chapman Laura Shepherd-Robinson Stuart Turton Catriona Ward The tradition of a haunted tale at Christmas has flourished across the centuries. These twelve stories - authored by some of today's most loved and lauded authors of historical and gothic fiction - are all centred around Christmas or Advent, boldly and playfully re-imagining a beloved tradition for a modern audience. Taking you from a haunted Tuscan villa to a remote Scottish island with a dark secret, and drawing inspiration from festive traditions from all around the globe, these vibrant haunted stories are your ultimate companion for frosty nights. So curl up, light a candle, and fall under the spell of Christmases past . . .

Ghostly Tales for Frosty Nights

The Winter Spirits

'I genuinely could not put this down' Stacey Halls 'A tour de force of a gothic thriller. I devoured it' Gillian McAllister 'Taut, propulsive, beautifully done' Susan Stokes Chapman From Elizabeth Macneal, the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Doll Factory, The Burial Plot is a spellbinding Gothic thriller about murder, manipulation, and a young woman trying to wrestle power from the hands of a dangerous man. But he's always one step ahead . . . London, 1839. With the cemeteries full and money to be made in death, tricksters Crawford and Bonnie survive on wicked schemes and ill-gotten coin. But one blistering evening, their fortunes flip. A man lies in a pool of blood at Bonnie's feet and now she needs to disappear. Crawford secures her a position as lady's maid in a grand house on the Thames. As Bonnie comes to understand the family - the eccentric Mr Moncrieff, obsessively drawing mausoleums for his dead wife, and their peculiar daughter Cissie, scribbling imaginary love letters to herself - she begins to question what secrets are lying behind the house's paper-thin walls and whether her own presence here was planned from the beginning. Because Crawford is watching, and perhaps he is plotting his greatest trick yet . . .

The Burial Plot

Fabryka lalek

De poppenfabriek

Lange, kalte Winternächte: Zeit, um den Kamin zu entzünden, Zeit für Geistergeschichten. Ob in den wilden Mooren von Yorkshire, auf dem verschneiten Gelände eines Spukhauses oder auf dem belebten Londoner Weihnachtsmarkt – diese Geschichten, die von Gespenstern vergangener Tage erzählen, jagen den Lesenden die köstlichsten Schauer über den Rücken. So herrlich britisch wie Yorkshire Pudding, so stimmungsvoll und gruselig wie ›Eine Weihnachtsgeschichte‹ von Charles Dickens und so spannend, dass man dieses Buch kaum aus den Händen legen kann. ›Schaurige Nächte‹ vereint acht Erzählungen ausgewiesener Gruselexpert*innen, die eine alte Tradition neu beleben: Als Meister*innen des Unheimlichen und Makabren bescheren sie uns einen Nervenkitzel ganz besonderer Art.

Unheimliche Geschichten für den Winter

Schaurige Nächte

A história apaixonante de uma rapariga marcada pela diferença e da sua luta pela autodeterminação Bestseller #1 The Times Bestseller imediato do Sunday Times 1866. Numa aldeia costeira em Inglaterra, Nell é colocada à margem pela comunidade devido aos sinais de nascença que lhe salpicam a pele. Até que chega à aldeia o Circo das Maravilhas de Jasper Jupiter, a quem o pai de Nell vende a filha pela quantia de 20 libras. Vendo bastante potencial nesta rapariga leopardo, Jasper concebe um número só para ela. Em Londres, Nell é agora descrita como a oitava maravilha do mundo. À medida que a sua fama aumenta, ela descobre no circo e em Toby, o irmão de Jasper, uma nova família. Mas o que acontece quando a sua fama ameaça eclipsar a do diretor do circo que a comprou? Movendo-se entre os jardins de recreio da Londres vitoriana e os cenários da Guerra da Crimeia, esta é uma história bela e envolvente sobre poder e liberdade, fama, amor e a ameaça da invisibilidade. Elogios ao livro: «Subtil e original.» The Guardian «A Fábrica de Bonecas foi um sucesso. Brilhantemente escrito e repleto de personalidade e vida, este segundo livro consolida a reputação de Elizabeth Macneal como um novo talento.» The Times «As personagens complexas de Elizabeth Macneal permitem questionar como a sociedade trata a diferença, o preço do poder e da vaidade, e a busca pela emancipação. Uma leitura cativante.» The Independent «Espetacular. Uma história brilhante e envolvente, repleta dos sons e paisagens da Inglaterra vitoriana. Uma leitura fantástica.» Daily Express «Maravilhoso. Brilha e reluz com as histórias sombrias de um circo viajante. Absolutamente encantador.» Daily Mail «Uma exploração convincente da estranha vida vitoriana. Um romance que comprova a imaginação rica e a prosa vívida de Elizabeth Macneal.» Sunday Times «Um romance fascinante e arrebatador que nos cativa do princípio ao fim.» Historical Novel Society «Uma leitura formidável. Cada cena é como uma pintura antiga em que a luz brilha em cada detalhe. Uma história bem construída e viciante, contada a bom ritmo, sem nunca comprometer o estilo. Um romance ambicioso.» Emma Stonex, autora de Os Guardiões do Farol

O Circo das Maravilhas

Lėlių fabrikas

De heerlijke nieuwe historische roman van Elizabeth Macneal!

Circus der Wonderen

Dukkeværkstedet

Una giovane donna che aspira a un futuro da artista. Un pittore preraffaellita in cerca di una nuova musa. Un sinistro tassidermista convinto di poter rendere immortale ciò che è unico. Alla Grande Esposizione di Londra del 1851 i loro destini si incontrano e cambiano per sempre. «Un racconto d'amore, arte e ossessione magnificamente evocativo». Paula Hawkins

La fabbrica delle bambole

From the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Doll Factory, The Burial Plot is an unstoppable thriller about murder, manipulation, and a young woman trying to wrestle power from the hands of a dangerous man. But he’s always one step ahead . . . London, 1839. Where the cemeteries are full and land is worth more to house the dead than the living, Bonnie and Crawford lead a life of trickery, surviving off ill-gotten coin and nefarious schemes. Until one hot evening, their luck runs out. A man lies in a pool of blood at Bonnie’s feet and now she needs to disappear. Crawford secures her a position as lady’s maid in a grand house on the Thames, still deep in mourning for its late mistress. As Bonnie comes to understand this family – the eccentric Mr Moncrieff, obsessively drawing mausoleums grand enough for his dead wife, and their peculiar daughter Cissie, scribbling imaginary love letters to herself from the mysterious Lord Duggan – so too does she begin to question what really happened to Mrs Moncrieff and whether her presence here is all part of some dark plan. Because Crawford is watching, and perhaps he is plotting his greatest trick yet . . . The Burial Plot is a thrilling cat-and-mouse chase, and Elizabeth Macneal's most page-turning novel yet.

L'Exposition universelle va bientôt ouvrir ses portes dans le tout nouveau Crystal Palace, et les badauds se pressent pour venir admirer cette merveille. Parmi eux, Iris, modeste employée dans un magasin de poupées, à la beauté mâtinée de difformité, qui rêve de devenir artiste peintre. Et puis il y a Silas, taxidermiste amateur de macabre et de curiosités, désireux d'y exposer ses créatures. Ces deux-là se croisent, et leurs destins en seront à jamais bouleversés. Iris accepte bientôt de poser pour Louis Frost, un jeune peintre préraphaélite. Avec lui, le champ des possibles s'élargit, et le modèle, avide de liberté, découvre peu à peu l'art et l'amour. Mais c'est compter sans Silas, qui rôde non loin de là, tapi dans l'ombre, et n'a qu'une idée : faire sienne celle qui occupe toutes ses pensées, jusqu'à l'obsession... [4e de couv.]

La fabrique de poupées

Londen, 1850. Iris werkt in een poppenfabriek. Silas, is taxidermist en een verwoed verzamelaar van morbide curiositeiten. De man en het meisje ontmoeten elkaar toevallig in Hyde Park, tijdens de bouw van de wereldtentoonstelling. Voor Silas betekent deze ontmoeting een nieuw begin. Hij besluit dat zijn leven zonder de mooie Iris geen enkele zin heeft. Wanneer Iris wordt gevraagd als model door de beroemde kunstschilder Louis Frost, stemt ze in op voorwaarde dat hij haar les zal geven. Het leven in het bohemien milieu bevalt haar steeds beter. En natuurlijk worden Iris en Louis verliefd. Ondertussen probeert ook Silas haar hart te veroveren. Zijn duistere obsessie wordt levensgevaarlijk voor Iris.

En spännande och förtrollande roman om kärlek, frigörelse, konst och besatthet. London, 1850. Iris jobbar tillsammans med sin syster i en leksaksaffär, där de syr dockor tills fingrarna blöder för att försörja sin familj. Men Iris drömmer om ett annat liv. Så när hon blir erbjuden att stå modell för den prerafaelitiska konstnären Louis Frost, trotsar hon sin familj och tar chansen. När stadens invånare flockas för att se bygget av den första världsutställningen möter hon av en slump Silas, djuruppstopparen som längtar efter erkännande och ära. Iris glömmer det snabbt, men för Silas blir mötet början på något nytt – en fantasi som snart övergår till besatthet ... Översättare: Hjalmar Manfred Svensson

Dockmakerskan

La embriagadora historia de una joven que aspira a convertirse en artista y del hombre que, obsesionado con ella, amenaza con destruir su mundo para siempre. Londres, 1850. La hermosa Iris trabaja, junto a su hermana, como aprendiz en el famoso taller de muñecas de la déspota señora Salter, pero su pasión es el arte. Cuando el pintor Louis Frost le pide que pose para él como modelo, ante ella se abre un mundo nuevo en el que, quizás, consiga su sueño de convertirse también en pintora. Sin embargo, su destino se truncará cuando Silas, un solitario taxidermista y coleccionista de curiosidades morbosas que está en contacto con el mundo artístico londinense, descubre la existencia de Iris durante la inauguración de la Gran Exposición Universal de Londres. La obsesión de Silas por Iris irá creciendo y tornándose cada vez más oscura, hasta que solo aspire a convertirle en la pieza estrella de su colección. La crítica ha dicho: «Una sobresaliente novela histórica, llena de vida, color e inteligencia.» Sunday Times «Vívida, cautivadora, absorbente.» Evening Standard «Magnífica, nos ofrece un repertorio de personajes extraordinario e inolvidable. Una historia única, evocativa y de irrefrenable lectura donde la tensión va creciendo hasta un clímax que te deja sin aliento.» Daily Express «Una historia penetrante, aterradora y maravillosamente evocativa sobre el amor y la obsesión.» Paula Hawkins, autora de La chica del tren

Elizabeth Macneal

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